Lip balm with spherical surface and method for producing

Abstract

A lip balm applicator product comprises upper and lower portions that are connectable together to define the applicator product being of a substantially spherical shape. A support platform is located in the lower portion and accommodates a quantity of lip balm having an arcuate surface. A lip balm comprises a composition of waxes and oils in solid form and formed to have an arcuate surface. The composition is formed to have the arcuate surface using a hot pour process. A method of manufacturing a lip balm comprises providing a receptacle having a concave arcuate surface. A lip balm material in a heated, liquefied phase is poured into the receptacle. Once poured, the heated, liquefied phase is allowed to solidify such that a surface of the solidified lip balm material has an arcuate configuration that corresponds to the concave arcuate surface of the receptacle.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a lip balm applicator comprising:
 positioning at least a cap of an applicator enclosure to receive and retain a liquefied phase of the lip balm , wherein the applicator enclosure comprises,
 (i) the cap having an interior and an exterior, and 
 (ii) a support structure; and 
   forming a solidified lip balm by introducing a heated liquefied phase lip balm into the interior of the cap.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap is a first portion of a final consumer packaging. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cap further comprises a mold portion. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the support structure comprises a first surface opposite a second surface. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the support structure is above the mold portion relative to the force of gravity when the cap of the lip balm applicator is positioned. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the solidified lip balm contacts both a portion of the first surface and a portion of the second surface of the support structure. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising attaching a second portion of the final consumer packaging to the first portion of the final consumer packaging to enclose the solidified lip balm. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is releasably attachable to the cap. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior shape of solidified lip balm substantially matches the interior shape of the mold portion. 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a lip balm applicator comprising:
 selecting packaging for the lip balm applicator, wherein the packaging comprises a mold portion and a lip balm support structure, the lip balm support structure having an upper surface opposite a lower surface;   orienting at least a portion of the packaging such that the lip balm support structure is above the mold portion relative to the force of gravity; and   pouring a heated liquefied phase lip balm material through the lip balm support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising solidifying the liquefied phase lip balm material to form a solidified lip balm, wherein the solidified lip balm has an exterior shape that complements the mold portion of the packaging. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mold portion is releasably attachable to the lip balm support structure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the solidified lip balm contacts both the upper surface and lower surface of the lip balm support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the packaging is final consumer packaging. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the final consumer packaging is substantially spherical. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the mold portion attaches to the support structure with interlocking threads. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising pouring the heated liquefied phase lip balm material into the mold portion. 
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a lip balm applicator comprising:
 pouring liquefied phase lip balm into a portion of a lip balm enclosure,
 the lip balm enclosure comprising
 an upper portion releasably attachable to a sub-assembly, the sub-assembly comprising:
 a lower portion having an interior surface and a exterior surface, and 
 a support structure connected to the interior surface of the lower portion, the support structure comprising a plurality of surfaces extending radially inward from the interior surface of the lower portion; and 
 
 
   solidifying the lip balm such that the lip balm is attached to and mounted on the support structure, the lip balm extending into the upper portion when the upper portion is attached to the subassembly.   
     
     
         19 . The method  18 , wherein the support structure is releasably attached to the lower portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein lower portion further comprises a connecting structure configured to connect with the support structure. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the connecting structure is a raised ridge. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the upper portion is releasably attached to the sub-assembly with interlocking threads. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the interlocking threads are located on the support structure. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the support structure comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface opposite the second surface. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the solidified lip balm contacts both the first surface and the second surface of the support structure. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the exterior shape of the solidified lip balm substantially matches the shape of the interior surface of the upper portion.